Funding Disparity: Will Stalin’s meeting with PM clear the way for Chennai Metro?

The Chennai Metro Rail Corporation, a joint venture between the Tamil Nadu and Central governments, successfully completed the first phase of the metro. Tamil Nadu approved the second phase, costing Rs. 63,246 crore, but the central government has yet to provide funding.
Meanwhile, the central government allocated Rs. 25,154 crore for the third phase of the Mumbai Metro, exceeding the project's Rs. 23,136 crore cost. This disparity has caused discontent in Tamil Nadu, with allegations that the BJP-led central government is favoring Maharashtra while neglecting Tamil Nadu's metro project.
In this context, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi yesterday to discuss the welfare of Tamil Nadu. His first request was to allocate funds for the second phase of the Chennai Metro project. Chief Minister Stalin has returned to Chennai hopeful that the central government will accept this request and allocate the necessary funds, stating that the meeting with the Prime Minister was productive. The people of Tamil Nadu are also awaiting positive news from Prime Minister Modi.
Will the central government respond to Tamil Nadu's plea, or will it reinforce accusations of preferential allocations to certain states? It is time for Prime Minister Modi to focus on Tamil Nadu.